Optical disk recorder for writing data with variable density

Abstract

An optical disk recording apparatus operates on an optical disk having circular tracks which are provisionally written with an index signal used for securing a constant linear velocity of the optical disk from an innermost circular track to an outermost circular track, and records data along the circular tracks at different linear densities on different annular zones of the optical disk. In the apparatus, a disk drive section rotates the optical disk while synchronizing the index signal successively read from the rotated optical disk with a predetermined reference clock signal to thereby maintain the constant linear velocity of the circular tracks. A clock generating section multiplies or divides the reference clock signal by different rates to generate different writing clock signals in correspondence to the different annular zones of the optical disk. A data recording section operates in synchronization to the different writing clock signals for recording data along the circular tracks at the different linear densities on the different annular zones.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to an optical disk recording method and an optical disk recording apparatus for enabling recording of data with recording densities differing from a standard specification of an optical disk to be used.[0002]The present invention also relates to an optical disk recording method and apparatus for recording information on optical disks such as CD-R, CD-RW, CD-WO, MD, DVD, etc. More specifically, the present invention concerns an optical disk recording method and apparatus for dividing a recording area into a plurality of recording zones and for recording data in respective recording zones with different linear densities.[0003]A groove called a pre-groove is formed previously during a course of manufacturing recordable optical disks compliant with CD (compact disk) standards such as a CD-R (CD recordable), a CD-RW (CD rewritable), etc. The pre-groove wobbles. The wobbling frequency is FM-modulated according to absolute posi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]The inventive method is designed to record data such that the recording linear density gradually changes between adjacent recording zones on the optical disk. Accordingly, it is possible to successively record data on a plurality of recording zones with different recording linear densities without temporarily stopping the operation. This eliminates a seek operation or a setting operation, while shortening the recording time and decreasing the number of recording steps.

[0024]According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a recording area on the optical disk is divided into a first zone along the inner periphery and a second zone along the outer periphery. The first zone records data with a first recording linear density as a standard density. The second zone records data with a second recording linear density as a higher density than the standard density. In this case, the first and second zones are each provided with a lead-in area, a program area, and a lead-out area in the order from the top of each zone, and record the data such that the recording linear density gradually changes from the first recording linear density to the second recording linear density between the top of the lead-out area in the first zone and the end of the lead-in area in the second zone. Especially, the data is preferably recorded such that the recording linear density gradually changes from the first recording linear density to the second recording linear density between the top and the end of the lead-out area in the first zone. If a reverse seek moves a reproduction position from the second zone to the first zone during the data reproduction, the aforementioned recording enables smooth signal reproduction, thereby allowing a return to a correct position.

[0025]An optical disk according to the present invention records data based on the aforementioned recording method. Further, an optical disk recording apparatus according to the present invention uses an optical disk which is continuously recorded with a linear density control signal from the innermost periphery to the outermost periphery with a constant linear density in order to specify a recording linear density of data, divides a recording area of the optical disk into a plurality of recording zones, and records data in the plurality of recording zones using different linear densities. The apparatus is comprised of rotation driving means for rotatively driving the optical disk, a pickup for reading the linear density control signal from the optical disk and for recording data on the optical disk, writing clock generation means for recording data based on the linear density control signal acquired via the pickup, recording control means for recording data on the optical disk via the pickup according to a writing clock generated by the writing clock generation means, and linear density control means for controlling a bit rate of the writing clock relative to a revolution speed of the optical disk such that the recording linear density of the data gradually changes between adjacent recording zones on the optical disk.

Problems solved by technology

An existing optical disk is incapable of using a data recording density differing from the specification for recording.

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